Our group came back from a 10 day excursion to other Central European countries last night to find out the tram lines have been changed. Construction is great.
Krakow, Poland:
The first stop was a three day stay in Krakow, Poland. There was no planned schedule, except for a dinner in the Jewish quarters. The weather was quite depressing and extremely cold. Oh and I lost my favorite hat, but had the best hot chocolate yet.
Yet, our stay was personally important for I visited Galicia Jewish Museum and was taken back by how powerful the two exhibits on display were; one is on a 17 year artist named Ryszard Apte and the other on abandoned areas of once Jewish owned buildings or synagogues. The drawings of Apte are amazing for they depict a personal diary during the Nazi occupation. Apte was killed trying to escape a labour camp in Stalowa Wola, yet his notebook of personally drawings was saved. The other section of the museum highlighted the realization of how many pre-owned Jewish buildings have been taken over by large corporations or destroyed entirely.
Our group decided the importance for all of us to see Aushwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. However, I found myself more influence by the Galicia Jewish Museum for there were too many tourists with cameras and smiles I felt I was at Disenyland rather than an area of horror. I of course had moments of realization, especially in the gas chamber and after walking through the main gate. I do not recommend visiting Aushwitz through -- it has become a tourist European hot spot and it was hard to tell what was reality. Worse, on the way back I noticed graffti on the walls outlining the high ways with Jewish stars crossed out and word sayings such as "Fuck Judes." I had some chocolate later.
Coming off of our bus from Krakow, our group was greeted with vodka shots. 10 minutes and two more vodka shots later, we were introduced to the Vydra NGO, an organization which focuses on preserving cultural traditions. Our stay in Čierny Balog was full of fun and fulfilling activities; dance lessons, tour of a farm including an area dedicated for cheese making, a weaver and her husband who plays the accordion, and so on. I wanted to stay here and be pampered much more than three days.
Žilina, Slovakia:
At our last stop and hotel number four, the majority of our group was ready to head back to Prague. We were in Žilina to attend workshops. Wanting to try something new and against my advisors wishes, I signed up for the physical workshop under the teaching of Farma, a group based in Prague. I am happy I did the workshop for I learned important skills about being an artist. Also, I know how to fall elegantly in three different ways!
Krakow, Poland:
The first stop was a three day stay in Krakow, Poland. There was no planned schedule, except for a dinner in the Jewish quarters. The weather was quite depressing and extremely cold. Oh and I lost my favorite hat, but had the best hot chocolate yet.
Yet, our stay was personally important for I visited Galicia Jewish Museum and was taken back by how powerful the two exhibits on display were; one is on a 17 year artist named Ryszard Apte and the other on abandoned areas of once Jewish owned buildings or synagogues. The drawings of Apte are amazing for they depict a personal diary during the Nazi occupation. Apte was killed trying to escape a labour camp in Stalowa Wola, yet his notebook of personally drawings was saved. The other section of the museum highlighted the realization of how many pre-owned Jewish buildings have been taken over by large corporations or destroyed entirely.
Our group decided the importance for all of us to see Aushwitz-Birkenau concentration camps. However, I found myself more influence by the Galicia Jewish Museum for there were too many tourists with cameras and smiles I felt I was at Disenyland rather than an area of horror. I of course had moments of realization, especially in the gas chamber and after walking through the main gate. I do not recommend visiting Aushwitz through -- it has become a tourist European hot spot and it was hard to tell what was reality. Worse, on the way back I noticed graffti on the walls outlining the high ways with Jewish stars crossed out and word sayings such as "Fuck Judes." I had some chocolate later.
Čierny Balog, Slovakia:
Coming off of our bus from Krakow, our group was greeted with vodka shots. 10 minutes and two more vodka shots later, we were introduced to the Vydra NGO, an organization which focuses on preserving cultural traditions. Our stay in Čierny Balog was full of fun and fulfilling activities; dance lessons, tour of a farm including an area dedicated for cheese making, a weaver and her husband who plays the accordion, and so on. I wanted to stay here and be pampered much more than three days.
Žilina, Slovakia:
At our last stop and hotel number four, the majority of our group was ready to head back to Prague. We were in Žilina to attend workshops. Wanting to try something new and against my advisors wishes, I signed up for the physical workshop under the teaching of Farma, a group based in Prague. I am happy I did the workshop for I learned important skills about being an artist. Also, I know how to fall elegantly in three different ways!
hey really great pictures, looks like your really getting to the soul of the place. love the sheep.
ReplyDelete- Adam
Sara love! Very well done. Your observations about the coldness and grey of the place are exact, but your pictures show such warmth and intrigue. There is a lot to be said about what you viewed, especially at the concentration camps. Very sad even though there were people taking pictures. Also Europe is full of anti semitic graffiti and slurs on walls everywhere.
ReplyDeleteIt is just that. But scary at the same time that we as a world have not evolved that much since the beginning of Hitlers occupation. Shame. Your work is present and clear and gives a very strong feeling of what is and isn't there in the room.
Keep up the great work. Stay warm, and keep drinking the delicious hot chocolate. I love you with all my heart. xxx Annie